Abhedya did not hear a word Swarnima said. Swarnima was holding his hand and his thinking, listening and responding capabilities ceased.
"Are you listening?" Swarnima asked when he did not respond.

"Umm... I... could you repeat?" Abhedya requested her.

Swarnima left his hand and explained again, "I was just saying... requesting you to behave a little normal when we are around family."

"Explain normal? You want us to 'act' like friends? Or you want us to behave like 'lovers'? Or shall we continue being junior and senior?" Abhedya questioned Swarnima.

Swarnima lowered her eyes and said, "do as you please." She got down from her car, opened the boot and took out the painting. She then opened her bag and gave a CD to Abhedya and said, "here, gift this to masi and chachu on their anniversary from your side. It's a simple video with their pictures but I think they will like it."

"When did you make it?" Abhedya asked but Swarnima didn't reply.

Abhedya helped her take out the painting and said, "fine!  Don't talk to me or talk only if necessary. That is the only solution. Because when I see you, your betrayal makes me angry, so just don't come near me. That is the only way we can behave 'normal'. Am I clear?"

Swarnima was sad with the proposed solution. She took Abhedya's hateful and sarcastic comments for the whole day without any complaints but he didn't want to speak to her or want her near him, this just broke her heart. The only reason she survived and was living was because of her eternal 'love' for Abhedya and he just asked her to maintain distance from him.
She moved ahead but Abhedya confirmed again, " I asked you something? Am I clear?"

Swarnima couldn't face him so she just nodded in a 'yes' and continued moving ahead. As they reached the gates of the hall in the outhouse Rudra dragged Swarnima inside and enquired her, "what took you so long? You know how difficult it was to restrict Nandini from coming here. See how it looks? Just as you instructed."
Rudra showed her the decorations and Swarnima made herself busy giving the finishing touches.

"Wow!! This is beautifully decorated." Abhedya admired the simple but beautifully decorated hall. The 'happy anniversary' streamer had pictures of Rudra and Nandini on all the alphabets. A small dance floor was made with pink rose petals and a heart was made with red rose petals in the centre. The focus light was giving it the perfect romantic effect. There was a small karaoke music system arranged on one side. The helium balloons which touched the ceiling had pictures from Rudra and Nandini's honeymoon suspended to there strings. And a huge screen on one side was arranged.

"It ought to be Wow! After all, it was my darling Nim's idea." Rudra revealed with admiration in his eyes for Swarnima.

"Please chachu! you have executed it beautifully. Now just don't mess up the proposal. Do you want to rehearse it? I am dying to hear what you have to say." Swarnima spoke with excitement.

"You doubt my abilities? I have proposed my lady a thousand times... but... but... I feel nervous every time. I need to cool down." Rudra answered honestly.

"Oh come on dad! You don't need any rehearsals. You are a die-hard romantic." Abhedya encouraged his father.

"Am I? I thought I was a cheater?" Rudra was still annoyed with Abhedya.

"Umm! I am a sorry dad! But put yourself in my position and see it looked as if you... uh!! I am sorry ok! I trust you and sincerely apologise about earlier. I am ready for punishment too." Abhedya regretted his remarks.

"Only if Nim forgives you, you are forgiven. You have said some serious cuss words and allegations to her. She will choose your punishment." Rudra gave his verdict.

"Chachu! Don't put me in quandary. I have no complaints from him, and you should not have too. What we have done is even worse and if someone who deserves punishment is us and not him." Swarnima disclosed what she felt but without sparing a glance at Abhedya.

"Don't be so selfless my child! He has the right to be angry and annoyed but he should understand the reasons behind it. And the way he behaved in the morning is unacceptable. Trusting and having faith in your loved ones is the most important thing and Abhey is too judgmental for his good and..."

"Uh.. chachu just two minutes are left. Stop thinking and cool your nerves masi will be here any moment." Swarnima cut Rudra from saying anything further.

"You still protect him whether is right or wrong! Nim change that nature of yours." Rudra warned and opened the door for his 'lady'.

"You still take my breath away." Rudra kissed Nandini on her cheek with the compliment. He grabbed her hand and brought her to the centre red heart.

Lights were dimmed and only the focus light shinned in the centre.

Rudra went on his knees and confessed, " I have told you several times how much I love you, why I love you, the moment I started to love you.
But Nandini, my happiness... I have never told you that when I do not love you. Yes, there are moments I don't love you.
I don't love you when you are the reason I can't concentrate on my work because that gorgeous face of yours keeps coming in front of my eyes.
I don't love you when my food tastes tasteless to me because the taste of your kisses is the only taste that tastes heaven to me.
I don't love you because when you smile at me I forget that problems exist and I need to solve them.
I don't love you when you never leave me alone... at home, at work, at park, at play, at night and in day. You stay and rule my heart and mind.
And lastly, I don't love you rather us because we could not make a daughter like 'Nim'."

Rudra slid a beautiful bracelet in Nandini's hand who was in tears with the magical words. She hugged him tightly and affirmed, "you always do that. Say something like this and make me cry... I hate you, you know?."
" Just like I love you!!" Rudra whispered in her ears and kissed her softly.

"Umm!! It's still not too late to make a daughter... will she be like Nim or not, there's no guarantee." Abhedya shot his head at the source of the voice only to see his 'bhui' standing and as usual, passing the sassiest comments.

Nandini hid in Rudra's embrace out of embarrassment. "Pri... one more please. Those comments are helping out here." Rudra teased Nandini further and she hit Rudra lightly on his chest and moved away from him to where Abhedya was standing.
Abhedya was overwhelmed with his parents romantic encounter. He regretted his distrust towards his father who was madly in love with his mother.

"Abhey!! How much I missed you, my baby!!" Pri gave a tight hug to her nephew.
Abhey also hugged his 'bhui' with equal fervour. The sarcasm and sass Abhedya got were his bhui's genes.

"Bhui?!! How??" Abhedya could not complete his question.

Pri stopped him and advised, "just don't ask anything now Abhey. Let's celebrate the moment. You are going to get a sister in the next ten months."

Everyone laughed their heart out when Abhedya noticed that his 'phuphu' (father's sister's husband) and his friend philosopher guide 'Maan' were there too.

" Phuphu?!!" Abhedya went and touched his feet with respect and Randeep(phuphu) blessed him and hugged him.
"Abhey!!" Maan pulled Abhedya and both brothers hugged each other.
Maan and Abhey were almost into tears. They missed each other a lot.

"God!! Mom this was the surprise you were talking about?" Abhedya asked his mother.

"Yes! We thought since you know everything now and have accepted it so maturely we will not hide anything from you. The moment you sang with Nim at Gharonda I decided to give you 'this' as a return gift." Nandini praised her son.

Abhedya however couldn't meet his mother's eyes as he definitely handled everything with everything other than maturity.

"Ok! Everyone give us gifts." Rudra demanded like a baby.

"Me first!!" Pri said.
"No! Not you!" Rudra refused. But Pri came and said, "I guess you are right. I got you condoms because I knew your anniversary night is filled with numerous sessions but knowing your plans on making a baby, this is a waste."

Priiiiii
Bhuiiiiii
Maaaaaaa
Everyone in the room shouted and burst out laughing except for Swarnima. She was not used to such jokes and covered her ears.

"Whattt!! It's a fact!!" Pri replied casually.

"Who gave you the doctors degree? I wonder." Rudra commented. "Anyway, have you got something nice or came empty hand again."

"Here," Randeep gave a beautiful Omega couple watches to the couple.

"Hey!! Thanks, buddy!!" Rudra took excitedly but Nandini said, "it wasn't required bhaiya... Rudra was just teasing Pri."

"No!!! I wasn't! I love it, man!!" Rudra declared shamelessly and laughed.

"I know! Both the twins are just the same... shameless!!" Randeep commented and the twins... Rudra and Pri threatened, "you dare not say anything about my brother/sister."

"Fine! Then I and my sister are teaming up against you!!" Randeep pulled Nandini to his side.

"Stop! Behaving like kids now you guys!!" Maan requested and gave a handcrafted wooden box with their names engraved on it to Nandini.

"Thank you, Maan! It's beautiful!" Nandini praised and  hugged Maan.

"What do I keep in this box Maan?" Rudra asked.

"The condoms!! Which you won't require." Pri suggested.

"Oh! Stop now Pri!! Enough!!" An irritated Randeep requested his wife but she just shrugged her shoulders.

"Nim,What have you got? The moment I saw the frame I wanted to open it." Rudra sounded no less than an excited child.

She asked them to come and unveil it. Everyone was teary seeing it. Rudra and Nandini took her in their embrace and kissed her forehead. "You are a blessing Nim," Rudra asserted with love.

"Why was God so unfair to you," Nandini was teary.

Pri consoled Nandini and said, "it was not a God but..."

"Bhui!! Please!! Not today. I am sorry I made you all cry. Had I known you all will be so emotional I would have never made it?" Swarnima replied feeling bad for making everyone emotional.

"You have painted the moment beautifully Nim." Randeep appreciated Swarnima.

Abhedya could not take his eyes off the painting. Swarnima painted the moment when Nivi was born. Rudra and Nandini behind and little Nivi in Abhedya's hands. She even incorporated the quote Abhedya said with his little brother in his hands, "of all the toys I have to play, I'd choose my brother any day."
The happiness their eyes expressed, their smiles and their tears were all captured beautifully by Swarnima on the canvas.

"So, Mr Abhey, what have you got?" Rudra asked his son.

"Here..." Abhedya gave the CD to his parents but was clueless about what was there in it.

"You have prepared something? Wow!! Staying just for a day and a night with Nim  has brought a positive change in my son. He's become so thoughtful." Rudra teased his son.

"What?? They stayed together for a night?? Bring on the details kids. I knew... from the beginning, your love will find its way." Pri couldn't control her excited self.

"Please Pri. Leave the kids alone. Abhey just stayed at Swarnima's house last night because of the lockdown and you know Swarnima has to follow the rules. Nothing will happen until the throne is claimed." Randeep declared in a firm tone.
Everyone was silent.
Maan broke the silence and said, "mama(Rudra) give me the C.D. I will play it."
Everyone sat on the chairs and Maan played.

The video started with a message which read "happy anniversary mom dad... this one is for you."
Then a series of pictures of Rudra and Nandini followed... some old, some new, some with family, some candid. Basically the pictures which depicted their life story with the background song of "nothing's gonna change my love for you by George Benson" played on the screen.

At the end of the video, Rudra hugged Abhedya and announced, "I love you, son!"
The moment was ceased. It is rare for fathers to confess how much they love their kids but when they do that means you must have done something good.
Abhedya looked at Swarnima who was just smiling but still not looking at Abhedya. When she did look at him she just gestured to him to see his phone.

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Dear Readers
New parts introduction:
Pri: Rudra's twin sister... addressed as bhui by Abhedya and Swarnima.
Randeep: Pri's husband... addressed as Phu Phu
Maan: Rudra's nephew... Abhedya's elder brother, friend and guide. For Swarnima her brother from another mother.

Fortunate are the ones who have someone to call their family. So, we should cherish every member and Moment we spend with our family.
The next update.. will be fun-filled too.
Stay hooked
Lots of love!